City Hall Moves Forward on Waterfront Zoning as Council Weighs Housing Crisis Response

The Boston City Council advanced a controversial zoning overhaul for the Seaport District on Tuesday, marking the first significant step toward loosening restrictions that have governed waterfront development for over a decade. The 11-2 vote clears the way for a planning board hearing next month that could reshape how future projects compete for space along Atlantic Avenue and beyond.

The move comes as city officials simultaneously confront a housing affordability crisis that has pushed median rents across Greater Boston above $2,100 per month—a 34 percent increase since 2020. At a Wednesday morning hearing before the Housing Committee, city planners acknowledged they're falling short of the mayor's goal to add 69,000 new housing units by 2030, with only 8,200 units approved so far this fiscal year.

"We need to think differently about where and how we build," said Marty Walsh, the city's chief planner, during the committee session held at Boston City Hall. The administration is preparing new proposals for mixed-income development in Roxbury and Dorchester, neighborhoods where displacement pressures have intensified amid rapid gentrification.

Meanwhile, the School Committee approved a $1.67 billion operating budget Thursday after a heated debate over teacher compensation and special education funding. The vote extends a salary increase for educators that Mayor Michelle Wu championed, though committee members voiced concerns about sustainability beyond the current fiscal year.

In other developments, the Transportation Department announced it will begin installing 150 additional bike lanes across the city by September, with focus areas including Commonwealth Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue, and several streets in Cambridge-adjacent neighborhoods. The $8.2 million investment aims to reduce car dependency ahead of the city's 2035 emissions targets.

The Parks and Recreation Department also faced scrutiny this week over maintenance issues at Boston Common and the Public Garden, where dead trees and degraded pathways prompted questions from city councilors about deferred capital spending. Department officials promised an assessment and repair timeline by mid-July.

Looking ahead, the full council will vote next week on a police reform package that would establish a civilian review board with subpoena power—a proposal that has drawn both civil rights support and law enforcement skepticism. The measure represents one of the most significant governance changes to emerge from city hall in recent years, reflecting ongoing pressure to reshape public safety structures.

Officials expect a packed chamber when that debate begins Monday evening.

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